Inflamed Liver Tests

September 22nd, 2011

There are various tests by which we can diagnose the condition of an inflamed liver. Inflammation to the liver is very dangerous and one must undergo these tests in order to figure out the level of damage that has happened to the liver, which is an essential part in the human body. Presently there are two types of tests that are carried out. The first one is the measurement of the liver proteins and the other one is the measurement of liver enzymes. At times, a person who has a liver inflammation due to viral hepatitis level is tested for the level of bilirubin in blood to know the level of deterioration caused to the liver.

06a Inflamed Liver Tests

Doctors can ascertain the level of damage to the liver caused by inflammation by checking the extent of the liver proteins in the bloodstream. The major test for this purpose is assessing the level of total proteins of the liver in the blood. If protein level is low, it confirms that the liver is not performing at the best possible condition and needs medical attention. Serum protein’s main function is to ascertain blood stream for Prothrombin, Albumins, and Globulins. Low levels of Prothrombin in the blood delays the blood clotting and it also is an indication that the liver is inflamed either due to interference of several medicines or blood diluting medicines or because of deficiency of vitamin K. Albumin helps to maintain the level of blood in the arteries and veins. If the level of Albumin is also low in the blood, it is an indication that liver is damaged and it has an inflammation.  Globulins resists infection and an inadequate quantity of these proteins can be a major reason for many infections to the body and also it can lead to liver inflammation.        

Liver produces two important enzymes which are ALT and AST. They are also known as transaminases. The main function of these enzymes is to help in metabolism of the amino acids and generate proteins. When there is inflammation to the liver and the liver cells are damaged, these enzymes flow in the blood stream. If the blood has any percentage of these enzymes in it, it signifies that the liver is damaged and it needs preventive measures. The quantity of these enzymes found in the blood shows the level of deterioration caused to the liver. Another measure is the level of bilirubin found in the blood stream which is an indication of the level of damage to the liver and also it may lead to many diseases besides an inflamed liver. Thus, all these tests are compulsory for diagnosing an inflamed liver so that precautionary steps can be taken to get it back to normal.

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Factors That Cause an Inflamed Liver

September 22nd, 2011

There are many factors that cause an inflamed liver and it can be a dangerous sign, which can prove deadly.  Liver inflammation should not be overlooked or left undiagnosed as it might lead to the need of transplantation of a new liver. Inflammation of the liver hinders its functions and other essential internal processes of the human body.  Liver inflammation is normally called Hepatitis, which means swelling in the Greek language.

05a Factors That Cause an Inflamed Liver

One of the main factors of liver inflammation is obesity. It has been observed that fatty people are more likely to suffer from hepatitis. That is why it is called fatty liver disease. Obese people have high levels of fat in their livers, which causes it to inflame. The irritation to the liver is caused by the accumulation of the surplus fat that ruptures the cells of the liver.

Another cause of liver inflammation is excessive alcohol intake. People who continuously consume alcohol for a period of five years or more and drink about 5.28 fluid ounces (150 ml) per day are bound to get affected from liver inflammation in the near future. The ratio of alcohol related hepatitis is far greater than hepatitis C.  That is the reason people are advised to take less alcohol and not frequently, as it can be deadly in the long run.  

Viral infections also leads to liver inflammation. Common types of liver inflammation caused by a viral infection is hepatitis C.  There are other types of viral infections that are present and these are designated between A to G. Viral infections can be passed on from one person to another person.  Thus, preventive measures should be taken at the earliest possible time in order to prevent it from an outbreak.  

Surplus of supplements, medication consumed by body builders and athletes and also high dosages of vitamins can cause inflammation of the liver. Incorrect intake of medicines can be deadly for the body as it can react and rupture the cells of the liver.  Besides this, certain conditions can also cause liver inflammation. Mononucleosis and Malaria can damage and inflame the liver cells. Same applies for Hemochromatosis and Wilson’s disease that can be very harmful to a healthy liver.

A person having these medical conditions or any of these symptoms should take advice from a doctor at soon as possible, so that the damage can be limited and liver can be reconditioned to its original functional state. The condition of an inflamed liver should be treated as soon as possible in order to keep the body healthy.

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Understanding an Inflamed Liver

September 22nd, 2011

The condition of an inflamed liver can be risky as liver is an essential organ that produces several enzymes that are crucial for the normal working of the body. It also facilitates in converting plasma into blood. But the vulnerability of your liver leading towards other diseases is a higher risk. One has to be aware of the issues that lead to liver inflammation and take remedial measures in order to make sure that inflammation does not occur to the liver.

04a Understanding an Inflamed Liver

Inflammation to the liver can be prevented by taking proper precautionary steps. One way is to exercise daily and consume healthy food. This minimizes the excess fat around the liver and it shields it from getting damaged. Doctors around the world advise patients who are overweight to exercise regularly. Exercising not only burns body fat but it also keeps the liver fully functional and free from many diseases. People should be aware while consuming medicines. Multiple medicines can counter each other’s effect and can cause liver damage. This has been observed in many cases as people consumed multiple medicines simultaneously and in the end had been diagnosed with liver inflammation. Medicines that are prescribed by doctors should only be taken as directed, as they have the knowledge about the immediate reactions between different components of the medicines, which can hurt you if an incorrect combination of the medicines is consumed.

People should lessen the amount of alcohol that is consumed or completely stop its intake. Researches have proven that consumption of alcohol damages the liver cells to a large extent. Alcohol abuse has an impact on the liver cells and they crush at a fast pace causing irritation and inflammation to the liver. Also intake of vitamins should be taken only under medical supervision, as excessive consumption can inflame the liver and render it dysfunctional. The food that has to be consumed should be clean, free from aerosols and disinfectants as they can react with the cells of the liver. This can damage them and lead to an inflammation.

Even if a person is suffering from liver inflammation, mild swelling heals naturally and it does not require medication. But in most of the cases medical attention may be required to cure the swelling. Drugs such as interferon and ribavirin are used to cure viral inflammation. Many treatments are available in the market but usually people prefer precautionary measures over cure for an inflamed liver.

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Liver Sclerosis Treatment

September 22nd, 2011

Liver Sclerosis is a disease that affects the liver causing it to function abnormally.  In Liver sclerosis, scar tissues start to build up on the liver and replace the healthy cells with damaged ones.  This causes hampered blood flow through the liver.  Once the liver gets damaged, other organs of the body may then become affected, as well.  Because of this, the liver is not able to defend itself against bacteria, infections and other toxins present in the blood. The liver can no loner help proteins control blood clotting, process nutrients or control hormones without the help of drugs.  The secretion of bile is also affected.  Liver sclerosis affects the liver in phases.  In initial phases, the liver manages to replace the damaged cells, but as it progresses it fails to do that.  The treatment of liver sclerosis is governed by its cause and the extent to which the liver is damaged.  

03a Liver Sclerosis Treatment

Treatment of liver sclerosis:  

Liver sclerosis can occur due to many reasons.  The major cause is the excessive intake of strong alcohol.  Liver sclerosis is also caused by hepatitis B, hepatitis C and hepatitis D.  Fatty liver is another cause.

Liver sclerosis is diagnosed after a thorough medical examination, including blood tests and imaging.  The doctor might also ask for the medical history of the person.  Patient’s symptoms also help in problem diagnosis.  Once the type and phase of liver sclerosis is assessed, treatment is prescribed that aims at ceasing its growth.

If the liver sclerosis is alcohol induced, then the patient is asked to stop taking alcohol and consume healthy and beneficial foods, instead.  If liver sclerosis occurs because of hepatitis, then it is a hit and trial for the physician to diagnose the condition.  The patient may also be given some immune boosting medicines in order to eliminate the virus.  If liver sclerosis occurs because of chronic hepatitis, steroids have to be taken.  

Jaundice, in some cases can also cause liver sclerosis.  In this case, the patient is given supplementary soluble vitamins and fat that causes the liver to heal from this situation.  If it occurs because of Wilson’s disease, there is copper built up in the liver, for which certain drugs are given.  

It is noteworthy that the treatment of this disease won’t be able to recover the damage.  But, its purpose is to stop further progression of liver sclerosis in order to minimize complications.  

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Liver Sclerosis Causes

September 22nd, 2011

Liver Sclerosis is a disease that advances in stages which affects the proper functioning of the liver.  There are many reasons why liver sclerosis might occur.  Liver performs some very important functions in the body.  It is responsible for the detoxification of the body and purification of blood.  The most important role that a liver plays is the production of amino acids, proteins, bile, urea, cholesterol and other important biomolecules.  

02a Liver Sclerosis Causes

Liver Sclerosis leads to the formation of scar tissues upon the liver which become hard because of some abnormalities.  After a certain time, these scar tissues gradually take the place of the healthy tissues and in this way the normal working of the liver is affected.  

Liver Sclerosis Causes

The main function of liver is cell regeneration, whenever it is needed.  This characteristic is not found in the other major organs of the body.  Despite this fact, many other diseases can affect the liver.  Some of the factors that can result in different liver diseases are its size, location and other functions.  Nonetheless, environment and genetic factors along with different lifestyle habits are the main reasons that cause Liver Sclerosis.  Various causes of liver sclerosis are:  

Over Consumption of Alcohol:  This is one of the main reasons that cause liver sclerosis.  Chronic alcohol intake over time is the major reason that causes the damage of liver tissues.  The liver disease that is caused because of over consumption of alcohol is called alcohol-related liver disease.

Chronic Hepatitis:  There are generally three types of chronic hepatitis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and hepatitis D.  All of these are viral diseases and damage the liver.  As a result of this scar tissues are formed in the liver.  

Autoimmune Hepatitis:  This is a severe condition that causes the liver tissues and cells to become inflamed because of the abnormal reaction of the immune system where it responds against the cells of the liver.  

Severe Obesity:  Obesity is one of the major reasons that lead to liver sclerosis.  And if the person is addicted to alcohol, the probability is increased.  Moreover, in case the obese person is suffering from chronic hepatitis, the risk of liver sclerosis is even greater.  

Genetic Disorders:  Many ailments, such as cystic fibrosis, Wilson’s disease and Hemochromatosis, affect the liver function directly or indirectly.  

So, one should eat healthy and cut excessive alcohol intake and smoking.  The patients suffering from certain diseases need to be hospitalized so that the symptoms that accompany can be addressed.  In some cases a person might need a liver transplant if liver sclerosis can’t be cured with drugs.  

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Liver Sclerosis Symptoms

September 22nd, 2011

Liver Sclerosis is a disease that results in the liver deterioration.  The liver is one of the most important and largest organs in our body.  It is reddish brown in color and is located towards the right side of the diaphragm.  It can be separated into four unequal lobes or parts. Liver plays a crucial role in fat breakdown, cell renewal, changing glucose into glycogen and the removal of waste products from the body.  Sometimes, because of infections and over consumption of alcohol, the liver gets damaged, which in turn gives rise to this deadly disease known as Liver Sclerosis.  

01a Liver Sclerosis Symptoms

Liver Sclerosis

liver sclerosis is a medical defect in which the cells of the liver are affected resulting in the formation of scar tissues on the liver. These scar tissues affect the circulation of blood leading to the hampering of liver function and finally in the liver breakdown.  Due to this, the liver fails to produce proteins that are essential for the clotting of blood.  This also retards the functioning of the liver to carry out functions like production of bile, an enzyme that helps in the digestive process, protection against dangerous virus and bacteria and relieving the body of toxins.

The major causes of liver sclerosis are over consumption of alcohol and being infected by diseases such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C.  A lot of reasons are responsible for causing liver sclerosis.  Some of them are: fat deposition in the liver resulting in the liver tissue to become inflamed, regular intake of toxins, chemical substances and infections.  Liver Sclerosis results if a person is having some genetic ailments like cystic fibrosis, protoporphyria, Wilson’s disease or hemochromatosis.  Following are some of the symptoms of Liver Sclerosis:

Liver Sclerosis Indications

During the earlier phases of Liver Sclerosis, it is difficult to identify the disease.  But, with time some of the symptoms that begin to show are:

1. Abdominal pain resulting from the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. This is one of the major symptoms of liver sclerosis.  

2. Unexpected loss of weight due to loss of appetite.  

3. Appearance of bluish black spider-like veins on the body.  

4. Feeling of nausea and vomiting.

5. Incapacity to do any work because of weakness or fatigue.

6. Red sores on the skin that itch.

In certain cases liver disease can have a very bad effect and can be threatening to your life.  Therefore, you should consult a doctor in order to prevent any complexities.  So, if you want your liver to be healthy all you need to do is eat healthy, avoid smoking and drinking and you will have a liver that is free from any infections and diseases like Liver Sclerosis.  

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Liver Swelling

September 14th, 2011

Liver swelling is not a medical condition, it is a symptom. This condition is characterized by the abnormally large size of the liver. The term liver swelling is used interchangeably with enlarged liver. Hepatomegaly is the medical term used for swelling of the liver.  During the initial phases of any disease, symptoms of liver swelling are not always observed. But as the disease progresses, symptoms of liver swelling begin to appear.

11a Liver Swelling

The average weight of a normal adult human liver is 3.31 lbs (1.5 kg). It is wedge-shaped and its size is somewhat similar to an American football.  Liver swelling can be caused by a number of factors. The most common causes of liver swelling are cirrhosis and hepatitis. The usual cause of hepatitis is viral, although excess intake of alcohol can be a contributing factor.

Cancer can also be a cause for liver swelling, because of its infectious nature.

Liver swelling can often be related to fatty liver disease. In this disease, fat accumulates in the liver and disturbs its function.  In the United States, cirrhosis has been replaced by fatty liver disease as the most common liver disease.

The initial step in the treatment of liver swelling is diagnosing the fundamental problem. Knowing the underlying cause can help in treating the liver enlargement permanently. Disorders like infection or cancer can trigger liver swelling, and must be attended to quickly as they can prove fatal in no time.

If alcohol is the cause of the liver swelling, you should either stop drinking or consume a lot less alcohol if your alcohol intake is regular and heavy. If you are not able to stop drinking completely, you should make sure that you do not take medicines while you drink alcohol.  By combining the two, your liver can be damaged. If the liver swelling is due to some other cause, your doctor can suggest some changes in your lifestyle to improve the health of your liver. The best way to prevent liver swelling is to exercise daily and eat healthy food.

You should always stick to supplements or medicines that have been suggested by your doctor. You must consult your physician before taking any other supplement, as some can damage the liver. Due care should be taken while consuming vitamins. Vitamins have been known to react with certain medications and cause fatalities. All of these measures can help in preventing liver swelling and keep you fit.

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Liver Masses

September 14th, 2011

Liver masses occur mainly due to hepatic cancer. They grow on the outer or inner surface of the liver, and are commonly known as malignant tumors. They are usually discovered by medical imaging technology, often accidently. The symptoms of liver masses are abdominal pain, jaundice, liver dysfunction, and nausea. People suffering from this condition also undergo weight loss coupled with muscle wasting. 

09a Liver Masses
                                     
Liver masses are formed when the tissues of the liver are infected with cancer. That causes masses to start forming on the tissues of the liver. Normal cells multiply to form new cells as they are required by the body, through normal wear and tear. Sometimes the process does not stop in its normal course, and it overproduces cells. This is the main cause we see for masses on the liver. The liver cells tend to over-multiply without the requirement to do so. The additional growth of the mass is called tumor, nodule or growth. The main reason for the development of the liver mass is infection from the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). The virus attacks the liver, developing abnormalities, and finally causing liver masses and cancer. Researchers believe that the virus causes damage to the DNA. The DNA contains all of the information that is required for the cells to replicate. The virus alters the DNA code, and thus the cells do not stop replicating. Researchers say it is the most logical reason for the development of the liver masses.

Chemotherapy is mainly used to treat liver masses. Chemotherapy contains very powerful chemical drugs that kill cells that are infected and form masses. Even though  chemotherapy is the treatment of choice, it not that effective in case of liver masses. Recently, a newer technique called chemoembolization has been used for the treatment of liver masses. This is a more specialized and effective technique, but it also has stronger side-effects compared to chemotherapy. The side-effects include abdominal pain, vomiting and nausea.

Liver masses are also treated by surgery. Surgery is more localized treatment for liver masses. If the liver masses have totally damaged a part of the liver, the damaged part is completely removed by the surgery.

If a person feels even the slightest symptom of the liver masses, he should not wait. He should immediately consult a specialist to confirm whether or not masses are present. If it is so, he should get the treatment for the liver masses as soon as possible.

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Liver Disease Symptoms In Women

September 14th, 2011

Liver disease symptoms in women are as common as they are in men. Liver is an uncomplaining organ of the human body. Many diseases pertaining to the liver do not show symptoms for longer periods of time. When liver diseases start to show symptoms, initially they are vague. By the time symptoms appear, the disease has often increased in severity. Even if the liver suffers injury at some time, it has the capability of regaining its original shape and size.   

07a Liver Disease Symptoms In Women
                                                           
Liver disease occurs in people who consume large amounts of alcohol over long periods of time. Nowadays, women also consume alcohol in large quantities and suffer from various liver disorders. Symptoms of liver diseases worsen after heavy drinking, and usually depend on the degree of disease. Initially, the disease can cause simple liver inflammation, which eventually leads to cirrhosis and fatty liver. Besides alcohol, there are various other causes of liver diseases in women.

The most common symptoms of liver diseases are listed below:

• Dry mouth.

• Fever.

• Fatigue.

• Jaundice.

• Fluid collection in abdomen (ascites).

• Abdominal tenderness and pain.

• Loss of appetite.

• Excessive thirst.

• Nausea.

• Unintentional weight gain (due to collection of fluid).

• Mental confusion.

Liver diseases can have other underlying symptoms:

• Agitation.

• Breast development in males.

• Abnormally light or dark skin.

• Changing mood.

• Bloody, tarry or dark black bowel movements.

• Ability to concentrate weakens.

• Confusion.

• Attention deficit.

• Hallucinations.

• Altered level of consciousness.

• Judgment errors.

• Paleness

• Dizziness or fainting, especially while standing.

• Increased heart rate while rising from sitting to standing position.

• Sluggish, lethargic or slow movements.

• Vomiting blood or coffee-ground like material.

• Blushing of hands or feet.

According to oriental medicine, persistent liver problems can be diagnosed by various other symptoms

• Skin problems.

• Headache.

• Allergy.

• Tinnitus.

• Dizziness.

• Sudden seizures.

• Tremors, ticks and spasms.

• Stroke.

• Constant irritation and short temperedness.

• Itchiness of eyes and redness.

• Pain and tension in back.

• Mood swings.

• Hypochondriac pain.

• Depression.

• Loss of flexibility in ligaments and tendons.

To avoid liver disease problems, you should take various precautionary measures such as avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption. These precautions can lead to a happy life, free from any liver diseases. To overcome liver disease symptoms in women, ‘Prevention is better than cure’ is golden advice.

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